Eid prayers

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Eid prayers
Eid prayers in Comilla, Bangladesh. Sholakia of Bangladesh has the record of holding the largest eid congregation in the world.
Official name	صلاة العيد
Also called	Holidays prayer
Observed by	Muslims
Type	Islamic
Significance	A Muslim prayer offered to Allah yearly in Eids.
Begins	Duha
Ends	Zenith - Noon
Date	Cycles according to the Islamic lunar calendar
Frequency	Yearly
Related to	Salah, Friday Prayer, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha

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Eid prayers, also referred to as Salat al-Eid (Arabic: صلاة العيد), are holy holiday prayers in the Islamic tradition. The literal translation of the word "Eid" in Arabic is "festival" or "feast" and is a time when Muslims congregate with family and the larger Muslim community to celebrate.^[1]

There are generally two central Eids that take place in accordance with the Islamic lunar calendar (hence the additional name Ṣalāt al-’Īdayn (Arabic: صلاة العيدين "Prayer of the Two Eids"):

• Eid al-Fitr^[2] (Arabic: عيد الفطر), also known as the "Smaller Eid" is a celebration marking the end Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, welcoming the new month of Shawwal and lasts for a period of three days. Mandatory charity, or Zakat, specifically Zakat al-Fitr (Zakat of Eid Al-Fitr) is offered to the poor by every financially-able Muslim (preferably prior to the offering of the prayer) to ensure that those who are less fortunate may also participate in the joyous holiday.
• Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى), the "Greater Eid" or "Eid of Sacrifice", is celebration on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah (last month of the Islamic lunar calendar in which the Islamic pillar of Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is performed). This Eid follows what is considered to be the holiest day in Islam, Day of Arafah^[3] and serves as a commemoration of Ibrahim's obedience and faith when tested by Allah.^[4] Able Muslims sacrifice an animal (Qurbani) whose provisions are to be distributed between friends, family, and the poor, equally as charity.^[4] Those who are unable to offer Qurbani but meet the requirements for it may offer a donation of Zakat in its place.^[5][6] These obligations apply to every of-age Muslim regardless of gender, so long as they meet the requirements of giving.^[7] Its duration is 4 days.

There is no set date for the Eid holidays, as it changes from year to year. This is due to the nature of the lunar calendar that calculates months based on the phases of the moon, unlike the solar Gregorian calendar that is used most widely today. The lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than that of the Gregorian, and so the equivalent date shifts back about 11 days every year. This is true for other holidays, such as the Chinese New Year or Rosh Hashanah, that are also based on the lunar calendar.^[8] The date normally varies in locations across the world, but many communities choose to follow the sighting reports of the crescent moon in Mecca for the sake of consistency.^[9]